What score do you need to pass the Praxis Core?

There is no single national passing score

This surprises a lot of candidates: ETS does not set a passing score for the Praxis Core. ETS builds the test and reports your score — but the decision about what score you need to pass is made by each individual state or educator-preparation agency.

That means the number you’re aiming for depends entirely on where you’re teaching or where your preparation program is located.

The common benchmarks (but always verify)

While scores vary by state, certain values appear frequently enough that they’re useful as planning targets. The most commonly required scores are:

Reading (5713): 156
Writing (5723): 162
Math (5733): 150

These numbers appear across many states, but they are not universal. For example, Washington state uses a Math cut of 142 (not 150), and Writing cut scores range from 158 in Washington to 160 in North Dakota to the common 162 elsewhere.

Use these common values as a preparation benchmark — but confirm your state’s exact requirement before you register.

How to find your state’s exact cut score

ETS maintains an official resource called “Passing Scores by State” on their website. It lets you look up the required score for each Praxis test in your state.

To find yours:

Go to ets.org/praxis/scores/understand/passing
Select your state from the list
Look up the cut score for the specific test codes your program requires (5713, 5723, 5733)

It’s also worth checking directly with your educator-preparation program — programs sometimes require a score at or above the state minimum, and they’ll have the most current information for your specific pathway.

How Praxis Core scores work

Each Praxis Core subtest is scored on its own scale. You receive a scaled score for each section — it’s not a raw percentage of questions correct, but a conversion that accounts for the difficulty of that particular test edition.

You’ll receive your score report online through your ETS account. Unofficial scores for the selected-response sections are typically available immediately after you finish the test. The Writing score (which includes the essays) takes a little longer, since essays are scored by human raters.

What if you don’t pass one section?

Each subtest is scored independently. If you pass two sections but miss the cut on one, you only need to retake that section — you don’t have to resit the whole exam. That makes it worth taking all three early, even if you’re most confident about two of them, so you know exactly where you stand.

Aiming for a buffer, not just a pass

Here’s a practical note: on test day, nerves and time pressure are real. Candidates who aim to just scrape over the cut score often end up just under it. Preparing to score comfortably above the requirement — say, 5 to 10 points above the cut — means a bad question or two doesn’t cost you a pass.

That’s not about doing extra work for its own sake. It’s about building enough confidence in your preparation that you’re not gambling on a single point.

Know your number — then prepare to beat it

Once you’ve looked up your state’s cut score, you have a clear target. The next step is understanding where your current skills sit relative to that target.

SN Academy’s free diagnostic test gives you an honest picture of your starting point across Reading, Writing, and Math — so you know exactly what to work on and can use your study time efficiently.

Find your score gap and get a personalized prep plan at /us/.

— The people of SN Academy